According to KRISTIN, Obese teens are at a greater risk for obesity-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and sleep apnea. Obese teens and children are also at risk for continued obesity into adulthood, which further increases the chance for health problems. Obese teens also suffer social stigma, which causes low self-esteem and prevents them from living up to their full potential. Incorporating proper diet, exercise and support will help reduce these risks and complications.
Melinda also indicated that, in Understanding how children become obese or overweight in the first place is an important step toward breaking the cycle. Most cases of childhood obesity are caused by eating too much and exercising too little. Children need enough food to support healthy growth and development. But when they take in more calories than they burn throughout the day, the result is weight gain.
Many factors contribute to this growing imbalance between calories in and calories out:
- Busy families are cooking less and eating out more.
- Easy access to cheap, high-calorie fast food and junk food.
- Food portions are bigger than they used to be, both in restaurants and at home.
- Kids are consuming a huge amount of sugar in sweetened drinks and hidden in an array of foods.
- Kids spend less time actively playing outside, and more time watching TV, playing video games, and sitting at the computer.
- Many schools are eliminating or cutting back their physical education programs.
The 2 basic steps to follow to deal with obesity are:
- Taking Good Diet
The truth remains that obese teens should eat healthy to combat weight problems and they must avoid fatty foods like those available at fast food restaurants, this can help prevent further weight gain. They must also incorporate healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, lean protein and high-fiber carbohydrates, it helps facilitate weight loss. Portion control is also crucial to weight loss and healthy weight management. According to KidsHealth.org, avoiding a clean-plate policy and allowing teens and children to stop eating when they are full will help maintain portion control.
Obese teens should eat the different kinds of fruits like some said, eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. This should include red (beets, tomatoes), orange (carrots, squash), yellow (potatoes, bananas), green (lettuce, broccoli) and so on—just like eating a rainbow.
- Exercising the body
Someone noted that, exercise can help teens combat obesity, even if they are genetically predisposed to being overweight. According to “U.S. News” Health, teens carrying the gene tied to obesity who engages in an hour a day of physical activity can nearly cancel out the gene’s effects. An hour a day of exercise does not need to be an hour spent in the gym. Teens can sign up for team sports through their schools or ride their bikes around town to get in an hour of physical activity. If school is close enough, walking to and from school also helps get in an hour a day of physical activity.